Australia’s Test Chance

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 613, 15 March 1929, Page 1

Australia’s Test Chance

LAST AND LIKELIEST Needs 286-Run Innings to Win HUGE WEATHER REQUIRING an innings score of 286 runs to win the fifth and final Test match against the Englishmen, Australia is again at the wickets. The Australians will fight with a back-to-the-wall determination, for they have already suffered four Test defeats. This is the last chance—and the likeliest. Eleven of the needed 286 runs have been scored—7 last evening and 4 to-day—without loss of wickets.

Received 3.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, To-day. The final test cricket mutch, England v. Australia, was continued today at Melbourne In perfect weather. There was a huge crowd of spectators. Oldfield and Hornibrook, who had made 7 runs between them last evening, resumed batting. YESTERDAYS PLAY Yesterday the Englishmen were all disposed of for 257, leaving Australia 286 to get to win. When stumps were drawn last evening, seven of the required number had been scored without loss. On the resumption of play yesterday morning the pitch was slow, but easy. In Wall's second over, Larwood s oft' stump was knocked out of the ground. Hammond commenced confidently. Hobbs, with an uppish stroke through the slips, brought up 50 after 50 minutes’ play. Hornibrook bowled poorly, with too many short-pitched balls. Finally Hammond was nicely taken at short slip by Ryder, after having # batted 44 minutes. Hobbs was beaten badly by an excellent ball from Orimmett when he had made 44. Tyldesley batted neatly. HOBBS SIMPLY CAUGHT When Hobbs's score was 50, lie attempted to drive one from Grimmett. He mis-hit the ball just over Fairfax’s head in the slips, and had a lucky escape. Hobbs went shortly after luncheon. Making a poor stroke, he was out to a simple catch in the slips. The outgoing batsman had been In 116 minutes, and his 65 included six boundary hits. Grimmett bowled Hendren with an exceptionally good ball. Tyldesley had scored 17 when he was missed by Ryder in the slips. It was not a difficult chance. Soon after this Tyldesley was smartly taken behind the wicket by Oldfield, who was standing back. GREAT EXCITEMENT The excitement of the spectators was now intense. Six wickets were down for 131, giving Australia a great chance. When Leyland had made eight he gave Ryder a difficult chance in the slips off Wall. The latter was bowling splendidly, but not with the best of luck. Tate hit out merrily, and scored several boundaries. When he was 27 Bradman made a good attempt to catch him in the outfield off Oxenham. Tate was going for everything, and scoring freely, especially off Grimmett. He reached his 50 in 52 minutes. Finally Tate was caught behind the wicket with a mis-hit after playing a '•ery bright innings for 54. compiled in 59 minutes. He had scored eight fours. It was an invaluable contribution for England. It is recalled that Tate also made * valuable 47 at a critical stage of the Adelaide test match. His partnership with Leyland to-day yielded 81 runs. In Wall’s second over after tea Geary was clean-bowled, and White was easily caught at silly mid-on. Duckworth was greeted with loud cries of “How’s that?” These were followed by favourable counterdemonstrations from the pavilion. As usual. Duckworth batted stubbornly, while Leyland tried to force tho runs. Tho board showed 250 after 253 minutes’ play. Then Leyland -cached his 50 for 137 minutes’ batting. lie -hit six fours, and although he was lucky in being missed when his total was eight, he played a most valuable innings. WALL’S GREAT FORM Duckworth batted half an hour. The visitors’ innings lasted 266 minutes. Wall was in great form throughout. He bowled 26 overs, five of which were maidens, at a fine speed, with an excellent length. He thoroughly deserved his success. The Australians, faced with the task of making 286 runs to win. commenced their second innings at 5.35 p.m. Five minutes later an unsuccessful appeal was made against the light. Chapman fielded for Jardine, who had left for England. A third appeal against the light was successful at 5.45 p.m. Details of the scores are: ENGLAND First Inning* HOBBS, lbw, b Rvdec 142 JARDINH. c Oldfield, b Wall 19 HAMMOND c Fairfax, L> Wall .... ss TYL.DESL.EY, c Hornibrook. b Ryder 31 DUCKWORTH, c Fairfax, b Hornibrook 12 HENDREN. c Hornibrook. b Fairfax 95 LEYLAND, c Fairfax, b Oxenham .. 13* HARWOOD, b Wall 4 LEARY, b Hornibrook 5 , r ATE. o b Hornibrook .. la M-HITE, not out » Extras I*> Total 519 Bowling.—Wall, S-123; Hornibrook, 3-142: Oxenham. 1-S6; Grimmett, 0-40; Fairfax. 1-S4; Ryder, 2-29; Kippax. 0--'. Second Innings. HOBBS, c Fairfax, b Grimmett .... 65 JARDINE, c Oldfield, b Wall 0 LARWOOD, b Wall 11 HAMMOND, c Ryder, b Fairfax . .. 16 TYLDESLEY, c Oldfield, b Wall . . 21 HENDREN, b Grimmett 1 LEYLAND. not out T'VriC' c Fairfax, b Hornibrook .... 51 GEARY, b Wall 3 HITE, c Oxenham, b Wall .. 4 DUCKWORTH, lbw, b Oxenham . . 9 Extras 20 Total 237 Bowling; Wall, 5-66; Hornibrook, 1-51; Grimmett, 2-66; Oxenham, AUSTRALIA First Innings. c Geary, b Larwood .. I°2 run out . 30 pi*i£AX, c Duckworth, b White .. *'S ~ Tate, b Hammond 30 vo\fi?*AN, c Tate, b Geary 123 -AIRFAX, lbw. b Geary 65

OXENHAM, c Duckworth, b Geary . . 7 OLDFIELD, c and b Geary 6 GRIMMETT, not out 38 AY ALL, c Duckworth, b Geary .. .. 9 HORNIBROOK, lbw, b White 26 Extras 17 Total 491 Bowling.—Larwood, 1-S3; Tate, 0-10 S; Geary, 5-103; White, 2-136; Hammond, 1-31; Leyland. 0-11. Geary bowled 81 overs and White 75. Second Innings. OLDFIELD, not out 0 HORNIBROOK, not out 2 No wickets for 11

Later Scores will appear in the Stop .Press as they come to hand

WARNER AS PROPHET

THINKS ENGLAND WILL WIN WOOLLEY LESS CONFIDENT (Australian and N.Z. Press AssociationJ Reed. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Thursday. Mr. ••Plum” Warner does not despair ol England’s prospects. ‘‘l am afraid of Woodfull, but although I am not a prophet, I shall venture that England will win by between 20 and 30 runs. The mirth of Kookaburra will re-echo through eucalypt and pine if I am wrong.” Wall, he says, is obviously the bowling find of the Australian season. Indeed, England may well envy Australia her new generation of cricketers. Leyland has made a happy opening to what Warner believes will be a great career in International cricket. F. E. Woolley, in the “Daily Chronicle,” says he fai-s to understand why the cirtics are suffiicently uncharitable as to describe England’s second innings as a wretched affair. Those with experience on the Melbourne wicket in such conditions will think otherwise. He thinks Australia has discovered the rightful successor to Gregory in Wall and expects him to be a complete success if he comes to England in 3 930. Australia has an excellent chance of winning to-morrow.